University Leaders Call for Tuition Fee Increase

Professor Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor of King's College London, has proposed raising tuition fees in England to between £12,000 and £13,000 per year to address the financial struggles of universities. This suggestion was made during the Universities UK (UUK) annual conference, where leaders acknowledged that the current cap of £9,250, frozen since 2017, is inadequate for sustaining quality education. Kapur emphasized that such a fee increase, which would represent a 35% rise, might appear 'out of touch' with public sentiment, and UUK is likely to recommend a more modest increase. The financial landscape has been worsened by a decline in overseas students and increasing deficits in teaching and research funding. Education officials recognized the complexity of these issues, promising to focus on them, while former universities minister David Willetts noted government concerns about potential university closures. Overall, the discussion reflects a growing urgency within higher education to find a sustainable financial model without overly burdening students.